CELEBRATE SERVICE: McDonald’s franchises celebrate medical workers

Monday

This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to the Panama City News Herald.

PANAMA CITY — Tracy and Tom Johnstone looked at the health care workers in the area and wondered what they could do to make their struggles during this time of self-isolation and COVID-19 a little easier.

Their answer, as one of the McDonald’s franchise owners in the region, was to begin delivering meals to a local hospital. Currently, the Johnstones’ staff is supplying meals for health care workers at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Panama City twice a day. Meals are delivered directly to the doctors’ and nurses’ lounges, free of charge.

“This is a great example of how the community can take care of the health care workers that are on the front line, taking care of patients every day in the hospital,” said Brad Griffin, CEO of Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Panama City. “Little gestures like this of community support go a long way.”

► MARCH 23, 2020: A graphical look at the coronavirus outbreak

“We’re going to continue as long as we can,” Tracy Johnstone said on Facebook. “It seems like nothing in the face of all this. We are thankful to be able to serve hot food and take care of folks.”

In addition, the restaurants are offering free combo meals to health care workers with proper work identification at their drive-throughs.

The Johnstone McDonald’s locations include: The St. Andrews McDonald's, 3608 W. U.S. 98, and Panama City Mall McDonald's,1921 State 77, both in Panama City; Callaway McDonald's,121 N. Tyndall Parkway; and Thomas Drive McDonald's, 2319 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. They also have franchise locations in Madison and Freeport.

► MARCH 23, 2020: Panama City small biz see drop in traffic from COVID-19 scare

"Delivering food to our local caregivers is a way for us to give back to the people who are sacrificing so much to aid our community during this time,“ Tracy Johnstone said Monday. ”After Hurricane Michael, our community came together in ways I have never seen. After living through that tragedy, I have confidence knowing our community will band together, support each other and come out of this even stronger.“

Drive-throughs remain open at area McDonald’s, with both carry-out service and “McDelivery” available in the Panama City area through DoorDash and Uber Eats. Johnstone emphasized her staff adheres to stringent quality control, hygiene and cleanliness procedures.

The Costa Enterprises McDonald's, another of the franchise owners in Bay County, is also offering free combo meals to area health care workers who show their hospital ID. The free meals, one per day, are available through March 31 at all 24 of the Costa McDonald’s in the region, via drive-through or carry-out.